Enalapril maleate is the maleic acid salt of enalapril, containing one molecule of maleic acid per enalapril molecule. After oral administration, the ethyl ester group of enalapril is hydrolyzed to form enalaprilat, an ACE inhibitor. Enalapril acts as a prodrug for enalaprilat, which is not absorbed orally. Enalapril maleate is used in the treatment of hypertension and heart failure, reduction of proteinuria and renal disease in nephropathies, and prevention of stroke, myocardial infarction, and cardiac death in high-risk patients. It functions as an ACE inhibitor (EC 3.4.15.1), an antihypertensive agent, and a prodrug. It contains enalapril.
